Schools Activity Programme

Activities cross many areas such as technology, social subjects and expressive arts, and include cross-cutting themes such as education for citizenship.

The programme lets people learn in different ways, for example through artefact handling, storytelling, costumed presenters, time detective investigations and even workshops on medieval warfare or building technology.

All our activities support the four capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence and link the castle with topics being studied in schools from early years to S6.

A small charge is made for activities.

Full details of the programme are sent to all Scottish schools at the beginning of the academic year. They can also be downloaded from the Historic Scotland website.

To find out about help with transport costs see our Travel Subsidy page.

Community projects and study days

We enable local community learning and development where possible, and support groups with additional needs.

Some community groups work on projects with our learning development officers.

If you have an idea for a project, please call our learning development officer on 0131 652 8155.

Free entry to the castle may be available.

Writing workshops

Weekly creative writing workshops for adults are run from Stirling Castle for groups of up to six. The sessions also include visits to other Historic Scotland sites.

Gaelic Junior Guides

Our Gaelic Junior Guides have produced a lively DVD for fluent Gaelic speakers and learners.

A costumed banquet scene performed takes you back to the 16th century to learn about the Great Hall and castle life.

The DVD is available free by phoning 0131 652 8155.

Travel Subsidy Scheme

Schools can get support with travel costs through the Scottish Government’s Heritage Education Travel Subsidy. Visit our Travel Subsidy page for more information.

CPD for teachers

We offer CPD events to help teachers make the most of historic sites as a support for classroom teaching. We also provide the chance to try out onsite resources and activities.

Some events train teachers how to lead a visit to a historic site through developing observation and evidence finding techniques, incorporating storytelling, and using costumes and artefacts.

Contact us

You can also ask about our travel subsidy, free planning visit, hazard planning sheets and support materials for teachers and group leaders.

Castle Secrets

It is widely rumoured that James V would swap his riches for rags and sneak out of the castle to the old town of Stirling where he would mingle with his subjects posing as the guid man of Ballengeigh.

Castle Secrets

Secret binary code was discovered on one of the Stirling Heads that turned out to be musical notes to a long lost requiem from the 16th Century. Visitors can hear the music in the royal palace today.

Castle Secrets

The phrase “pushing the boat out” is thought to have been coined in relation to the extravagant celebrations held at the castle for Prince Henry’s baptism in 1594 when a full-size boat featuring live mermaids and shooting cannons was used to serve the fish course.

Castle Secrets

Nine skeletons dating from 1200-1400s were unearthed in a long-lost royal chapel in 2008. It is thought they must have been people of stature to have been buried within the castle. Visitors can come face to face with 2 of the skeletons in the castle exhibition.

Castle Secrets

Research carried out in 2011 revealed that King Arthur’s round table may well have been hidden beneath the historic King’s Knot that sits below the castle. Writers including John Barbour and Sir David Lindsay have linked the landmark to the legend of King Arthur for more than six centuries.